Sunday, August 31, 2008

Today in Children's Ministries we are taking a look at part of the Epistle reading, Romans 12:4-8

"Each of us has one body with many parts. And the parts do not all have the same purpose. So also we are many persons. But in Christ we are one body. And each part of the body belongs to all the other parts.

We all have gifts. They differ in keeping with the grace that God has given each of us. Do you have the gift of prophecy? Then use it in keeping with the faith you have. Is it your gift to serve? Then serve. Is it teaching? Then teach. Is it telling others how they should live? Then tell them. Is it giving to those who are in need? Then give freely. Is it being a leader? Then work hard at it. Is it showing mercy? Then do it cheerfully."

The Body of Christ includes Christians everywhere, but we are looking specifically at our roles in the Body of Christ at Christ Church. Christ Church Kids are full-fledged members of the body, not junior members because of their age. I am looking forward to hearing from them what part of the body they want to be!

Friday, July 4, 2008

Children develop typical responses when parents give a no answer. The three-year-old bursts into tears because he can't have candy in the store. The ten-year-old says, "Fine!" and huffs off to the other room when her mom says "no" to more computer time. The fifteen-year-old starts yelling at his mom because she won't drive him to his friend's house. Each of these situations provides an opportunity to teach contentment.

One dad said it this way, "I taught my twelve-year-old son the difference between a demand, a desire, and a wish. When he comes down to dinner and sees spaghetti, he might express a wish saying, 'I wish there were meatballs in this sauce.' Or, he might come down and say, 'I want meatballs in my spaghetti sauce.' That's a 'desire' response, stronger than a wish. But when he comes down and says, 'I'm not eating that spaghetti without meatballs,' and then makes unkind statements to his mother, he's moved to demandingness. This distinction has helped my son because now he tries to move demands back to desires or wishes."

One of the signs of spiritual maturity is that a person exchanges demandingness for contentment. Paul said in Philippians 4:11 that contentment didn't automatically appear but it was something he learned, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."

Contentment is being grateful for what you have instead of grumbling about what you don't have. It's a spiritual quality that adds peace and joy to our lives without feeling that we need something more.

As with many spiritual qualities, contentment is learned at home. Children are often tempted to be demanding with parents and others. When we, as parents, teach our children to accept a no answer graciously, then we are moving them toward contentment. This doesn't mean that your children need to release any sense of ambition in life. It does mean that as they work toward a goal, they maintain an internal peace and the ability to accept limitations and value relationships in the process.

In the Zone Patrick Boyle will be leading a lesson on Noah's Ark, and discussing floating boats. Miss Amanda will be using clips from the movie Evan Almighty to discuss how God "gifts the called" instead of "calling the gifted".

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

SHINE Sunday was a blast in Children's Ministries! Matt & Jen Waite, along with the SHINE team presented a message on the Fruits of the Spirit from Galtians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Matt & Jen did a great job acting out the challenges we have face in observing the fruits. Some of the Christ Church kids acted as directors, changing the scene to better illustrate living by the Fruits of the Spirit.

We have been so blessed by the 5 SHINE Sundays the Team has led, THANK YOU MATT & JEN! You set a great example of how we should let our lights SHINE!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Matthew 6:25-34"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

One day a large group of people was gathered around Jesus on a hillside and he began to teach them a lesson about worry. He mentions that God takes care of the birds in the air and the lillies of the field, and that we are so much more precious to Him that these things.

Does this mean that we can sit around and wait for clothes, food, and shelter to drop from the sky? No, God provides food for the birds, but they must go find it. God provides jobs for our parents to make money to buy what we need. But Jesus tells us that before we expect God to provide what we need we must "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness." The more we follow the ways of the Lord, the more we will be provided for. And Jesus tells us not to worry, when we worry we are shoing a lack of faith in God!

Notice the word NEED...what is the difference between WANT and NEED? In our world we have so many of our wants, that we must be conscious of the difference between wants and needs.

Yes, we need food...but do we NEED ice cream or do we WANT it because it tastes so good?

Yes, we need clothes...but do we NEED the coolest new sneakers or do we WANT them because everyone else has them?

Do we NEED cars?

Do we NEED games?

Do we NEED toys?

Yes, God will provide for us. But he also asks those who have much to take care of those who have little. We in Mount Pleasant have much. How can we take care of those who have little?

UTO Boxes - put coins in your box as you thank God for all you have.

Donate to Meals on Wheels or ECCO so that people who need food can be fed.

Donate used baby equipment or clothing to HALOS to help children in need.